The UT1000 microprogramming simulator: an educational tool
F. Cornett · ACM SIGARCH Computer Architecture News · 1989
The concepts of microprogramming and firmware are frequently difficult to explain to computer science students. The subject of firmware is normally introduced in a beginning course of the computer science curriculum, usually as one of many terms for which a definition is memorized, but rarely understood. Even in advanced courses in computer organization or architecture, the concept may remain somewhat abstract to the student. Just as the practice of writing and executing programs in high level languages develops an increased understanding of those languages, writing and executing microprograms aids the student in understanding this concept. This paper describes the UT1000 microprogramming simulator, a software emulator for writing and executing microprograms on a simulated 16 bit CPU built using AMD2901 ALU/register slices and an AMD2910 microprogramming sequencer. The simulator package described here executes on the IBM PC/AT and PS/2 models of microcomputers. In addition to learning microprogramming concepts, the student is exposed to the principles of bit slice architecture, as well.